First Age Organizations

in First Age

Welcome to chapter VI, where we will discuss the different notable groups of the age. Though one adventurer to another, this barely tracks the most notable groups of the world. Thousands are said to exist, from the most bounteous cities to the most remote mountains.
 

What is an Organization?

An organization typically falls under a freelance group that has yet to set themselves as an official guild. Thus organizations can vary in size, purpose and typically tax brackets. However, due to the influx of income, many of these organizations find themselves taxed heavily. Due to the concern of nations not wanting their local guilds to be supplanted. Thus while you are free to travel as you wish, few who register as an organization dream of staying as one.
 

How do I found one?

Go into any local nations embassy, fill out the paperwork, pay your fees, and within a few days, if you're lucky, one will be given registration forms. Once completed, you hang them up as proof of the right to trade. While said nation that you walked into an embassy of has in there “Any tax taken by other nations of this organization, will pay two to five percent to the signing nation. In exchange, all legal troubles shall be represented publicly by the nation signer.” This is to say, if you screw up, the nation that is backing you will provide some sort of legal action. Though in most cases, this is rarely enforced due to the diplomatic difficulties of most nations. And many organizations find themselves unfortunately left to their own devices.
 

Types of Organizations

Below is a full list of those organization categories recognized by the Global Trade Alliance. Each is noted to have its own special tax requirement as well as expected business plan.
 

Category

While there are X broad categories, one should make clear which you intend you plant your flag under. Depending on your line of work and its success rate, you could see major costs through taxable income.
 

Income Taxed

Simply put, an adventurer cannot be taxed for his side hustle if it's not listed on the organization’s paperwork. Basically due to legal reasons, so that's your money to keep. But if it falls under the proper category, then you gotta pay up at the end of the year.
 

Adventuring

While the most common due to most travelers being some sort of registered adventurer. One should keep in mind that only those registered in this category can take on higher grade quests. As well are the only individuals who can post quests openly. Thus keep in mind, this kind of organization has certain rights others do not have. Downside is that you are expected to register in each town you visit. Which means if the gods come down and attack, you're first summoned up. Monster wave incoming from the forest? Boom, all adventurer organizations are required to act as a first line of defense.
 

Quests

Secondary downside, every quest you do you get taxed on. That includes material gains, item procurement, and loot. Unfortunately for all of us, once you're registered, it's also impossible to hide anything due to the pact magic used. Common tax is the lowest of all the categories, only requiring 2-5% at maximum in nations outside of Diamond’s Death.
 

Smiths

The second most common organization are traveling smiths. These lots specialize in making rare metal based goods. The reason for the majority to travel is as Master Smiths learn. They become more valuable, and leadership of nations typically do not wish to see their talent leave. Thus many of the greatest smiths never set root in any one town for more than a few weeks at best.
 

Sales of metal goods

With the highest tax of nearly fifty two percent, this field sees a continuous multi million sapphire hill profit end of end. Now this is due to the fact that most smiths only need to sell one grand piece of equipment to be set for life. Thus, the many nations agreed upon the highest tax to keep smiths from passing on their edge.
 

Mercenary

The second oldest job in the book, right besides what your first adventuring friend's mother was doing. Even have her number somewhere in this book. Anyways, while I look for that, mercenaries find themselves constantly hired out to help in one skirmish or another. Cheaper than adventurers however, rarely are they experienced in monster fighting. Most mercenaries spend their lives instead fighting other warriors, slaying mighty sentient dragon lords, and hoping a wizard doesn't drop an ice spike on them.
 

Mercenary contracts

While the lowest paid field might be a slight exaggeration, it is not to say that it isn't cheap work. Fact is, there aren’t many old mercenaries. Thus expect to make one to two sapphire hills a day if you're lucky. Also your tax is near ten percent of anything you make. The life of a mercenary is barely above that of a day laborer. Honestly, you’d be better off adventuring.
 

Exotic Animals

The second highest paid contract work in the field is said to be exotic animal capturing. Those who are quite capable find themselves paid quite well. Though at the risk of your own life of course. Each beast is nearly as costly in your lifespan as they are profitable. Only the cunning, wise, or truly stupid manage to do well in this field.
 

Monster Sales

With live beasts going for hundreds of thousands in many cases. One should expect a near twenty five percent tax bracket expectation. Thus while expensive, if you're good or you get your stuff second hand. There's some profit to be made, if not, well I hope you can find a loan of a few million sapphire hills.
 

Hunters

While adventuring can do anything, Hunters specialize and get paid to deal with elite monsters. Typically the first called when an apex arrives, those who rank amongst the adamantine talon typically find themselves as Hunters. Each is capable of researching, slaying, and dissecting any beast they lay their eyes upon. Though this job also has the highest mortality rate as many adventurers who forget to learn the other fields of experience. Tend to find themselves outmaneuvered by a more cunning beast.
 

Monster Parts/corpses

With a near fifteen percent tax bracket, the hunter does not pay as much as one would expect. This is due to the expensive value of each part and difficulty to find. Many nations believed it in their best interest to allow for lesser tax, and increased profit to ensure quality. This is also a highly paid role, especially in lands such as the Frost Jotun territory.
 

Herbalist

Those skilled in the druidic and natural arts typically find themselves as a herbalist. While at first one would believe this a passive job. Understand that the greatest plants are at the scariest of depths. Many who take on this title find themselves quite respected and often expedition leaders.
 

Potions/Crops/Plants/Medicine

Depending on your individual skill, one could expect to make nearly a few thousand ruby volcanos per potion or plant. But the expedition work and establishment of gardens can net an organization in the hundreds of thousands of coins. Thus a tax of sixty two percent is expected by most. Allowing the industry to stay healthy, while allowing newer organizations a chance to defer any tax payments until expeditions signed are paid out.
 

Mage

The rarest of the categories due to most magical individuals refusing to leave their home towns. Some though find themselves overtaken by an interest in travel. Thus we offer a specialized category to allow cities to know what they are dealing with. For a mage can be both a blessing and a curse depending on the individual.
 

Spell scrolls/Magic items

With around thirty three percent in tax on all spell scrolls and magical items. Most mages already charge a large amount for their services. Thus it was established to avoid mages starting up small nations or monopolies.
 

General

The most common for non adventurers to pick up. This field allows anyone to travel anywhere and set up a tent. These tents typically offer a service of some sort, but can range from barbers to plague doctors. Though almost all charge for their time as the service, rather than the product they bring.
 

Brewers/Cooks/Innkeepers

Though the most common three, there are a few other jobs that also tend to line up with this field. Seeing only one to two percent tax on their service. This is due to the high costs of running services like this. As well as the danger, thus to avoid unsavory types taking advantage. Little coins are typically on hand and prices are low to keep individuals safe.
 

Miners

Typically only run by slavers and those who can afford to extort others. Miners are bad news no matter the individual who runs them. But they see the lowest profit margins as most of the merchants keep the raw materials. Instead allowing it to filter through other businesses they own and hiding any profit gained from its sale.
 

Metals sold raw or processed

While broad, raw and processed metal sell for quite a lot. With few nations willing to deal in anything less than a few thousands ruby volcanos at offer. Thus while the industry has an eighty percent tax rate on all profits, that is only taken out of what is called the “Nation Necessity Tax”. Which is to say, to avoid you not selling your goods, the nations will only tax you on 5% of the profits if the metal was needed for a project or war. Thus this sees many of these businesses traveling warzone to warzone whenever they can.
 

Transportation

Technically not the lowest of the low, but the most new market entry friendly. The industry is well set up in just travel. Either for commoners or for elites, the industry is simple to its core. Though it is also considered the most dangerous for backstabbing, monster ambushes, and overall deaths. With so many young individuals finding themselves thinking the job would be easy. Only for a young dragon princeling to be ambushed by an ancient scaled one who devours the caravan whole.
 

Travel/Guides/ Bodyguards

Interestingly the average transportation specialist is only expected to pay tax upon completion of the job. Thus one could take advantage of a loss and balance it out without much worry. The average tax is around seventy five percent, but has a large depreciation value for almost all assets. Thus one can easily write off most of their expenses with ships/carts/wagons and come out being owed sapphire hills.
 

What is a noble house?

Typically this is a family that has taken up arms in the name of the nation. They typically rule a section of land that they collect their tax from and pay tax for. The position of this sort of organization is fully hereditary. And thus, most often enforced by the nation its sworn to.
 

How do I found one?

There are many ways, most go with the idea of becoming a hero to a nation. Then asking that nation for their own land to rule in exchange for the hero's protection. However, others have been known to offer currency or goods to obtain vast amounts of land. And others have managed a grand discovery that offered their fealty in order to study and protect said discovery.
 

What is a Guild?

A guild is exactly like an organization however with instead both the leadership and the headquarters are in a set place. That guild is then registered within that nation and is a permanent institution of the nation. Typically guilds have members numbering anywhere from a couple hundred to a few thousand across the globe. But all members return actively to this one location.
 

How do I found one?

Similarly to an organization, though one is required to fill out a lot more paperwork. Have proof of ability usually through your organization's history. Pay the extraordinary fees that come with purchasing land, branding rights, guild name, and then furniture. Then bribe your local leadership and you should be home just in time for the next year's bakery to begin. Typically it's easier to get someone to owe you a favor, if you get what we are not recommending. Yes, please get the rogue to read this.
 

Types of Guilds

Identical to the organizations, guilds find themselves with the same categories. However, the main difference is that their tax rate is no longer dependent on industry. Rather the relationship with the city oftentimes determines it. Thus remember young adventurers, to be rich, you will always have to bribe someone.